If the Lord had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
When I thought, “My foot is slipping,”
your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.
When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:17-19)
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened.
These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ.
Join by Zoom each Monday at 11:45 a.m. ET to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare.
For Peace
God of peace, who judges the nations and calls us to beat swords into plowshares, we turn to you as violence spreads. We remember those who flee from destruction, who hide in terror, and who live under threats of devastation beyond measure. Have mercy on all who suffer. Shelter the displaced, tend the wounded, and comfort those who mourn. Restrain the hands of those who would destroy. Turn leaders from threats of ultimate destruction and guide them in the ways of wisdom and peace. Still the pride that fuels escalation, and raise up those who seek life, not death. Make us steadfast in prayer and faithful in the work of peace, that the nations may learn war no more. Through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
For the Seafarers Stuck in the Persian Gulf
God of safe passage, whose Son calmed the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee and protected his seafaring disciples, we pray for the merchant seamen who are stuck in the Persian Gulf amid heightened conflict and instability in the region. They are vulnerable, O God, and we pray that you would protect them, comfort them, and make a way for them to arrive swiftly on safe shores. We pray also for their families who long to be reunited. Pour out your lifegiving Spirit on them as they are uncertain and afraid. Grant hope where it cannot be found, wipe tears where they flow, and calm bodies that shake in fear and distress. Grant this world peace, for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
For Migrant Workers’ Rights
God of the vulnerable, whose Son Jesus Christ spent his days on earth among the poor and marginalized in the Roman Empire, we pray for all migrant workers who are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. We pray also for all workers—in the United States and around the world—who are forced to work in inhumane or degrading conditions in systems that profit from their labor. Grant them freedom and fairness amidst unjust labor conditions. Make us just advocates for the abused and help us break down the systems of oppression that sustain these injustices. Grant wisdom to the lawmakers and business leaders who have the opportunity to make decisions that directly affect the least of these. Above all, comfort and guide all who suffer unseen, and help us tell their stories for the sake of a more just world. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom your kingdom is revealed and for which we continue to hope. Amen.
